Leona Filis is a published author of an in depth article on student rights and laws about Section 504 and Special Education published in The Houston Lawyer Jan/Feb 2018. The Houston Lawyer – Special Needs Law & Advocacy
Section 504 is a part of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973, as amended. The Office for Civil Rights enforces Section 504 in programs and activities that receive federal funding from the U. S. Department of Education.
Section 504 requires schools to provide a free appropriate public education (FAPE) to each qualified student with a disability who is in the school district’s jurisdiction, regardless of the nature or severity of the disability.
IDEA – Individuals with Disabilities Education Act 2004
This law ensures infants and toddlers with disabilities and their families receive early intervention services under IDEA Part C. Children and youth ages 3-21 receive special education and related services under IDEA Part B.
The ADA Amendments Act of 2008 made significant changes to the ADA’s definition of “disability” to be a physical or mental impairment that substantially limits one or more major life activities, a record of such an impairment, or being regarded as having such an impairment
Major life activities include, but are not limited to, caring for oneself, performing manual tasks, seeing, hearing, eating, sleeping, walking, standing, lifting, bending, speaking, breathing, learning, reading, concentrating, thinking, communicating, and working.
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